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A new peer-reviewed study of the greenhouse gas and other emission effects of EPA's Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) proposal finds the policy would have the perverse outcome of boosting GHGs in 18 states and the District of Columbia by causing almost one-third of existing coal plants to run more often.

New findings of a sharp spike in domestic greenhouse gas emission levels are clashing with the oil and gas sector's argument that increased use of natural gas, a lower carbon fuel source than coal, is an effective climate strategy, an argument that Trump administration officials have generally echoed.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), ranking member of the environment panel, might seek to pressure acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler into agreeing to safeguard the Obama-era utility air toxics rule and other major regulations in exchange for Democrats not attempting to block his confirmation if he is nominated to head the agency permanently.

Biodiesel producers in new legal filings are claiming EPA must assess the impact on its renewable fuel standard (RFS) from several RFS waivers the agency has granted to small refiners, faulting the Trump administration for ignoring what the producers say are adverse consequences such as hindering the program's biofuels production goals.

EPA's plan to scrap the Obama-era finding that the costs and benefits of the utility air toxics rule make the rule “appropriate and necessary” is spurring uncertainty on how the agency will count “co-benefits” that result from reductions in non-target pollutants to justify future rules' costs because the plan downplays such benefits but does not prohibit their consideration.

Some oil- and gas-heavy states are pushing back on aspects of EPA's proposal to roll back Obama-era methane standards for new oil and gas equipment, particularly on the key issue of how frequently operators must check for emissions leaks at wells.